AFC Champions League: Hegazy v Koulibaly, a clash of defensive giants

The years do not appear to be taking their toll on them just yet. At 33 and 32 respectively, Ahmed Hegazy and Kalidou Koulibaly have played week in, week out since the turn of the year and have been catching the eye. The Senegalese and his club Al Hilal are on an impressive run of 28 consecutive wins in all competitions. The latest? On 1 March, in the 22nd round of the Saudi Pro League against... Al-Ittihad. Both defenders started, and it was the Lion who got the better of the Pharaoh, helping his side consolidate their place at the top of the table.

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Since arriving in the Saudi Pro League, Koulibaly has quickly established himself as a key member of his team. A natural leader, he has become the boss of the defence and already has 26 appearances this season, with two goals to his name. It is fair to say that Senegal's early exit from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was not unwelcome to Al Hilal's staff, who got their defender back earlier than expected. In a video that went viral, his coach Jorge Jesus even asks him to get back into training straight away, when he had only just returned from Ivory Coast.

Since then, Koulibaly has had a breather, having been left out of the squad list for the previous round of the AFC Champions League because of the rule limiting teams to 5 foreign players. The former Napoli man is set to return for this showdown against the Jeddah club and will be keen to help his side take a big step towards qualification. All the more so as, in head-to-heads, Al Hilal have a clear edge over their yellow-and-black rivals, with 24 wins to just 9 defeats, the last of them coming in April 2021.

Hegazy, back at just the right time

But while Al Hilal are calling the shots in the league, Al-Ittahad are counting on this break from domestic action in the AFC Champions League to bounce back. N'Golo Kante's side were on a run of 6 matches unbeaten before their defeat on 1 March, and above all had a full month of February with 5 wins. A good spell that coincides with Ahmed Hegazy's return to the fore. An undisputed starter since coming back from the Africa Cup of Nations on 4 February, in the King Cup and with a brace against Al-Faysaly, the Egyptian is at the heart of a defence that has rediscovered its solidity. Only 5 goals conceded in the last 7 matches, whereas the team had shipped 11 goals in 3 matches before the break.

A welcome return for coach Marcelo Gallardo, who can finally draw on the experience of his defender, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in his knee in June 2023 and only returned to competition in December. With just 9 appearances this season, the Egyptian has been "gradually reintegrated into the team, in line with the advice of the medical staff", the Argentine coach explained, before continuing: "They will set a specific number of playing minutes to prepare for his full return, which we hope will be a valuable boost for the team."

And he could not have put it better, as the Pharaoh's return coincides with the team's current good form. Since February, Hegazy has played in every one of Al-Ittihad's matches, with a record of 5 wins, one draw and one defeat. Proof that at 33, the former West Brom and Al Ahly man remains an undisputed leader.